Michigan football coach Brady Hoke, and his counterpart from Michigan State, Mark Dantonio, have been praised more than criticized.

The reason why is both inherited programs, Hoke from Rich Rodriguez, and Dantonio from John L. Smith, that had become the butt of jokes.

Each, subsequently, has had rapid success. Dantonio has been at Michigan State since 2007, Hoke at Michigan since 2011, so Dantonio has the longer track record.

However, the two Big Ten head football coaches in this state share the following in common: Each is at the stage the biggest question being asked entering 2013 is, "What now?"

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2012 was disappointing for both. Michigan was an improbable long pass against Northwestern away from obscurity. The Spartans were .500 in the regular season.

The surprising BCS bowl appearance and subsequent victory over Virginia Tech following the 2011 season is in the rear view mirror for the Wolverines. So is the shared Big Ten title for MSU in 2010, and the Spartans' appearance in the first-ever Big Ten championship game in 2011.

Last year, in the preseason polls, the Wolverines and Spartans were both highly-regarded. Michigan was ranked eighth in the Associated Press preseason poll, MSU 13th. Neither lived up to the their advance billing. This year, there is a chance neither will be in the Top 20, and it's possible MSU won't be in the Top 25.

Phil Steele has MSU ranked 23rd and Michigan 24th in his preseason magazine. He has MSU tying for first in the Big Ten's Legends Division, but not playing in the Big Ten title game (he has Nebraska facing Ohio State). The Spartans' destination, according to Phil Steele, is the Capital One Bowl facing Florida. He has Michigan playing Mississippi in the Gator Bowl.

On his website, Steele forecasts the AP preseason Top 25. He projects the Wolverines will be rated 19th and the Spartans not in the Top 25.

Steele is alone among the preseason magazines predicting the Spartans will have a better season than Michigan:

- The Sporting News projects Michigan winning the Legends Division and has the Wolverines ranked 13th nationally, and the Spartans outside the Top 25 and placing fourth in the division.

- Lindy's has the Wolverines 16th nationally and MSU 20th and 1-2 atop the Legends Division.

- Athlon's projects Michigan 14th nationally and winning the division and does not rank MSU and places the Spartans fourth in the division.

- The Sporting News, Lindy's and Athlon's all have Michigan and Ohio State meeting in the Big Ten title game, which would be the first and only time. Division re-alignment is coming in 2014 with the addition of Rutgers and Maryland to the Big Ten, and OSU and Michigan subsequently being in the same division.

All four magazines have Alabama No.1 and Ohio State No.2 entering this season.

What does it mean? Ultimately, nothing tangible. They are just rankings, and Michigan and MSU could outperform expectations - just as they underperformed last season, according to the polls and preseason forecasts.

But preseason polls and forecasts do indicate perception.

Michigan's offense should be formidable. The Wolverines have quality receivers and Devin Gardner showed much promise last season at QB. The defense should be all right, but doesn't project as special.

The Spartans' defense looks tremendous - on paper. Reality is MSU's defense repeatedly folded late in games last season and wasn't able to bail out a shaky offense. There is no place to go but up for MSU offensively, but it's difficult to envision the Spartans returning the production of Kirk Cousins' senior season.

But 2013 will be about regaining the respect both MSU and Michigan lost coming up short in regard to expecations in 2012.